Pakistan increases contribution to UN agency to help Palestinian refugees

New York: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Maleeha Lodhi handed over Pakistan’s enhanced contribution for Palestinian refugees to the representative of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA), the agency working to provide relief to Palestinians.

Speaking on the occasion at the Pakistan Mission to the UN, ambassador Lodhi said
this was done on the instructions of the government of Pakistan, and in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people of Pakistan.

“The people of Pakistan have always stood with their Palestinian brothers and sisters”, she added.

Ambassador Lodhi stressed that this assistance will help UNRWA continue its relief efforts on the ground and keep the schools and clinics open that it runs in Palestinian refugee camps.

This additional contribution comes at a critical time as the Agency is facing a financial shortfall after a major donor ceased to continue its support. Countries belonging to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and other states decided to step forward. Pakistan also joined the others.

Thanking Pakistan for the contribution, the Commissioner General of UNRWA, Pierre Krähenbühl, said that Pakistan’s solidarity and support for the Palestinian people had been historic and extremely important.

Pakistan, he said, had not only supported the Palestinian cause financially but also in debates at the UN General Assembly in New York.

“This year’s financial support will enable UNRWA to keep the schools for five hundred and thirty thousand courageous Palestinian refugee boys and girls open, and also keep our clinics and primary health care centers running”, he added.

The Commissioner General also highlighted that this contribution would send a strong message to the Palestinian refugees that they were not forgotten.

It would enable UNRWA to continue to stand for the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people, he added.